Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-04-15
PRETTY HARD JOB.
A Tramp Fires a Locomotive for an Hour
and Then Expresses an Opinion.


and Then Expresses an Opinion.
II don't know of harder-worked
man than the locomotive fireman." said
an old engineer. 1.-The average man
thinks that all the fireman has to do is
to ride in the cab and occasionally
throw in a stick of wood or shovelful
of coal. The truth is that from the time
the fireman leaves his outgoing station
until he reaches the end of his run it is
almost constant struggle to keep up
steam. One cold sleety night, some
time ago, man climbed up into my
cab while we were lying on side-track,
and wanted to fire his way to Little
Rock, some one hundred and fifty miles
distant. My fireman had just been
taken i'll, and | hailed the appearance
of the applicant with pleasure.
"'Did you ever fire?' asked.
"'No, but l am strong, and know
that | can keep the pot boiling. Two
walked all the way from st. Louis, and
] am about worn out. l don't feel that
can walk another step, especially dur
ing such weather as this
"'All right
81 gave him instructions, and he went
to work. The road was in bad condi-
ton, and it SO happened that we were
nearing the heaviest grades on the road.
My man, after filing the fire box, said:
"Ah, this beats struggling along in the
mud and sleet I'd like to get steady
job of this sort
"'Fire up said.
"I've filled her up.
Fill her up againn
'Whatr
'He filled the fire-box, seeming sur
prised as he did so, and then remarking
that he would take nap, stepped back
and lay down. A minute later called
him.
What's the matters? he asked.
Fire up said.
You're joking.
Hurry up. This is no joking mat
ter
He filed up the box again, sat down,
and dozed off to sleep.
"'Fire up called.
"He got up, looked in the fire-box
and asked:
A" How far have we come since l got
on?'
"'About fifteen miles
"'How far do you go before you stop
again?'
81 don't know. Forty miles, prob
ably
"'Will you do me favor?'
"'What is it?'
"'Slow up so can jump off.
My gracious, man, you don't want
to get off here. There are no houses
along here and you'll freeze to death,
besides, the ground is so slick you can
walk. Don't get off.
"Tm much obliged for your advice,
but | don't want to die this way.
don't mind working in coal mine and
can stand it to pitch cord-wood all day
/ but don't propose to shovel my life
into that Internal suck hole. Well, SC
| long and before ! could detain him he
had jumped off. Two days later, Will,
| was on my return trip-while we were
receiving freight at a station-up came
my friend.
"'Hello, cap'n, said he.
"'How are youP
"'Oh, I've been doing first-rate since
| got out of the railroad business. UseC
to fire an engine, you know
Say, didn't you regret getting of
that night?'
Regret he exlaimed in astonish
ment, why, | had nothing to regret.
pulled up the grades without having tt
wear myself out firing, and l could liz
down under tree and take nap with
out having some one grab me and tel
me to snatch up shovel and commi
suicide. I'm sorry for you, nodding a
the fireman. I'm sorry that you'v,
got to wear yourself out that way. lie
me give you the advice of an expert
enced man. Get off and walk. "'-Ar